The Mushin Way to Peak Performance

Chapter 1 Heiki: Equanimity

This chapter will explore how entering into a state of equanimity, remaining calm under duress, prepares you to take action. You'll learn how crucial remaining calm is—whether in a crisis or just managing everyday situations. You'll see how summoning this calm energy, known as heiki, can help you see new solutions to a seemingly unsolvable problem. You'll read about some examples of people who have demonstrated heiki, and you'll be given some exercises to work on developing your own calm energy.

Your boss just tapped you on the shoulder and said, “Hey—you got a minute? We need to talk for a second….”

What runs through your mind when you hear those words? Does your heart start to race? Do you start imagining disaster scenarios? Counting up all your past sins? Do you think to yourself, “Oh, no, here we go again”?

Any of these responses would be perfectly natural—but none of them are particularly helpful. You know that you don't do your best thinking when panicking. You know that you can't have a healthy, helpful conversation with your boss, colleague, or loved one when you've got your hackles up. But what's the alternative? How can you escape the trap set by your own nervous system?

There Is Another Way

The alternative is a state of mind and body known as heiki. It's a calmness under duress that you can practice deliberately—when you're triggered ...